Iranian Regime Escalates Rhetoric After US Strikes, Warns Gulf Neighbours Against Supporting Attacks

TEHRAN, June 28: Iran on Saturday accused the United States of violating a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) after American airstrikes targeted coastal surveillance facilities in southern Iran, warning neighbouring countries against allowing their territory or military facilities to be used in future attacks.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said the strikes carried out late Friday represented a "clear violation" of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and a "direct breach" of the first clause of the June MoU that ended the conflict between Tehran and Washington.

The ministry also accused Israel of attacking Lebanon "in coordination with the United States," calling it another violation of the same agreement.

In a statement, Tehran urged countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf to respect "good neighbourly relations" and prevent what it called "aggressor parties" from using their territory or facilities for operations against Iran.

"The responsibility for the consequences lies with the United States and any parties that in any way assisted its actions against Iran," the ministry said.

Iran said it retains an "inherent right" to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter and vowed to protect its sovereignty, security and national interests "with all its power."

The ministry said Iranian strikes against US-linked targets were carried out under that principle.

Meanwhile, Iranian lawmakers called for a strong response to the US strikes.

Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of Iran's parliament National Security Committee, said Tehran was awaiting a "regret-inducing response" from negotiators over what he described as a violation of the agreement.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, accused Washington of violating both negotiations and the ceasefire, saying the US had attacked Iran while talks were underway.

"The United States once again attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations," Azizi said, warning that the action would ultimately result in a US retreat.

The statements followed claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy that it had targeted US military positions in the region in response to what it called a US breach of commitments.

The US military, however, said its strikes targeted Iranian missile, drone and radar facilities after Tehran allegedly carried out a drone attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest exchange has intensified tensions despite the ceasefire agreement, raising concerns over further military escalation in the Gulf region.